Neck protector



March 3, 1970 R. 'r. MITCHE L ,4

" NECK PROTECTOR I Filed Aug. '2. 1968 INVENTOR Rlc HHRDTRAVIS Mrrc ueu.

ATTORNEY S United States Patent 3,497,872 NECK PROTECTOR Richard Travis Mitchell, 223 E. Main, Price, Utah 84501 Filed Aug. 2, 1968, Ser. No. 749,826

Int. Cl. A41d 13/00 US. C]. 22 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A neck protector for a user Wearing a helmet having a bottom edge, generally comprising a substantially U- shaped member adapted to straddle the users neck including a pair of leg sections engageable With the upper portions of the users shoulders adjacent the users neck and an intermediate section disposable adjacent the back of the users neck, the member having a length sufficient to permit the rearward portion thereof to pro ject rearwardly from the users shoulders when the pro-' tector is being worn and the forward portions of the leg sections being curved forwardly and downwardly whereby the forward ends of the leg sections are engageable with the upper chest portion of the user when the member is being worn and the leg sections are resting on the users shoulders.

This invention relates to a neck protector and more particularly to a neck protector adapted for use by persons engaged in body contact sports.

In most body contact sports such as football, lacrosse and ice hockey, various types of equipment have been developed to protect a players head, shoulders, rib sections and legs from injury. Helmets with interior padding and face masks have been developed to protect the head from injury. Shoulder pads and rib pads have been employed to protect the upper portion of the body, While hip pads and leg guards have been developed to protect the lower portions of the body. Such equipment has been designed to provide maximum body protection consistent with providing maximum freedom of movement of the player.

Notwithstanding the considerable progress which has been made in the development of effective protective equipment for participants in body contact sports, the neck portion of a player has remained a major source of injury. In practically all body contact sports, the head of a player is subject to a variety of blows which invariably are transmitted to the players neck.

In the. prior art various type of neck guards have been developed for the purpose of protecting the neck from direct blows and indirect blows applied to the head which normally would be transmitted to the neck. It has been found, however, that such devices are not entirely satisfactory in completely eliminating a concentration in the neck of blows applied to the head.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved neck guard.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved neck guard particularly adapted for use by persons engaged in body contact sports, such as football, lacrosse and ice hockey.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved neck guard for players engaged in body contact sports, normally wearing protective helmets, wherein blows applied to the head of a player either are absorbed, or transmitted to the shoulders of the player, thus preventing a concentration of such forces in the neck of the player.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel neck guard for players engaged in body 3,497,872 Patented Mar. 3, 1970 contact sports which provides a maximum amount of protection for the neck from either directly or indirectly applied blows, consistent with providing a maximum amount of freedom of movement of the player.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved neck guard for a player wearing a helmet which is adapted either to absorb or transmit to the shoulders blows directed at random angles to the head of the player.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel neck guard which is adapted to protect the neck of the user from injury which does not require any action on the part of the user in its effective use.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved neck guard which may be worn comfortably about the neck and which will not interfere with other conventional protective equipment such as helmets and shoulder pads.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved neck guard which is easy to install and remove, and which will not absorb perspiration.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel neck guard adapted for use by players engaged in body contact sports which is relatively simple in construction and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those persons skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention worn about the neck of a user;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 in FIGURE 3.

Briefly described, the present invention relates to a neck protector for a user wearing a protective helmet having a bottom edge, comprising a substantially U- shaped member adapted to straddle the users neck, including a pair of leg sections engageable with the upper portions of the users shoulders adjacent the users neck and an intermediate connecting section disposable adjacent the back of the users neck. The member is provided with a length sufficient to permit the rearward portion thereof to project rearwardly from the users shoulders when the protector is being worn. The forward portions of the leg sections are curved forwardly and downwardly whereby the forward ends of the leg sections are engageable with the upper chest portion of the user when the member is being worn and the leg sections are resting on the users shoulders. Preferably, the U-shaped member is provided with upper planar surfaces engageable by the bottom edge of the helmet, the intermediate connecting section is provided with a raised portion engageable by the rear bottom edge of the helmet, and the curvature of the lower surfaces of the forward portions of the leg sections is greater than the curvature of the adjacent portions of the users upper chest portion to provide a spring action in the forward portions of the leg sections.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated an embodiment of the invention. The embodiment generally consists of a U-shaped member 10 having an impervious surface 10a including a pair of converging leg sections 11 and 12 and an arcuate intermediate connecting section 13. The member 10 is intended to be mounted on the shoulders of the user, so that it straddles the neck of the user, as best illustrated in FIGURE 1. The member 10 further is provided with an upper planar surface 14 having a raised portion 15 disposed on the intermediate connecting portion 13, which is adapted to be positioned below the lower edge 16 of the users helmet 17, an inner side surface 18 adapted to be positioned in straddling relation and engageable with the neck of the user, an outer side surface 19 and a bottom planar surface 20 which is adapted to rest on or engage the shoulders and upper chest portion of the user. All of the edges of the member are rounded and the aforementioned surfaces merge gradually to eliminate any abrupt or sharp edges.

The forward portions 21 and 22 of the leg sections converge and curve forwardly and downwardly. The curvature of the bottom surfaces 20a and 20b of the forward portions of the leg sections, is greater than the curvature of the shoulders or upper chest portion of the user, so that when the member 10 is positioned on the shoulders of the user, the forward portions 21 and 22 of the leg sections will bridge a portion of the shoulder and upper chest portion of the user to provide bridging flexing elements for purposes as will later be described. Secured to the leg sections 11 and 12 is a pair of strings 23 and 24, provided with a slide clasp 25.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 4, the length of the member 10 is suflicient so that when the neck protector is in position with the bottom surface 20 resting on the shoulders of the user and the forward lower ends of the leg sections engaging the upper chest portion of the user, the rear end of the member including the arcuate inter mediate section 13 will project rearwardly relative to the shoulders of the user in cantilever fashion. A flap 26 having a pair of eyelets 27 is secured to the section 13 to permit the member 10 to be secured to other equipment worn by the user, by means of laces 28. The member 10 is formed from a resilient material such as foam rubber, and is provided with a soft and smooth impervious coating such as vinyl or latex which will prevent chafing or irritation to the skin, and yet will not absorb perspiration.

In the use of the neck protector as described, the device is worn simply by forcing the leg sections apart and placing the device about the neck in straddling relation. After the device has been positioned, so that the member 10 is resting on the shoulders of the user, the front lower ends of the leg sections are resting on the upper chest portion of the user and the rear end thereof is projecting rearwardly from the shoulders of the user, the user may put on other equipment such as a pair of shoulder pads which will engage the lower front ends of the leg sections of the member 10 to secure them in position, and to which the rearward end of the device may be secured by means of the laces 28.

With the neck protector thus positioned, it is adapted either to absorb direct blows to the neck or blows applied to the helmet 17 which are transmitted to the neck. It will be appreciated that direct blows to the neck applied to the neck protector will be absorbed and dissipated by the cushioning action of the material from which the neck protector is formed. All blows applied to the helmet which normally would be transmitted to the neck either are absorbed and dissipated by the neck protector, or transmitted to the shoulders of the user.

Vertical blows applied to the helmet 17 normally would cause the helmet to move downwardly, so that the bottom edge 16 of the helmet would engage the upper planar surface 14 and the raised portion of the member 10. The face of the downward movement of the helmet thus would be absorbed and dissipated by the neck protector. Unusually large forces applied vertically on the helmet 17 would be partially absorbed and dissipated and partially transmitted to the shoulders of the user.

Blows directed to the front portion of the helmet and the face mask 29, would cause the head to snap rearwardly so that the bottom rear edge 16 of the helmet would engage the raised portion 13 Of the neck protector.

The force of such a blow would be absorbed and dissipated initially by the downward flexing action of the rearwardly projecting portion of the neck protector and thereafter by the cushioning action of the intermediate section 13. Unusually large forces created by heavy blows applied to the front of the helmet 17 and the face mask 29 would be partially absorbed and dissipated by the flexing action of the projecting portion of the neck guard and the cushioning action of the material of the neck guard, and partially transmitted to the shoulders of the user.

Similarly, blows applied to the upper rear part of the helmet 17 would cause the forward portions of the bottom edge 16 to engage the leg sections 11 and 12 of the neck protector. Forces developed by such blows will be absorbed and dissipated first by the flexing action of the forward portions 21 and 22 of the leg sections and subsequently by the cushioning action of the material of the leg sections. Large forces caused by heavy blows to the upper rear portion of the helmet initially would be absorbed and dissipated by the flexing action of the forward portions of the leg sections and the cushioning action of the material, and thereafter would be transmitted to the shoulders and upper chest portion of the user. It also will be appreciated that frontal blows directed to the forward portions of the leg sections 11 and 12 Will be absorbed and dissipated by the flexing action of the front portions of the leg sections and the cushioning action of the material of the neck protector.

The configuration of the neck protector, as described, will provide maximum protection to direct or indirect blows applied to the neck, and will not interfere with any of the head or body movements of the user. The smooth contours and the impervious coating of the protector will prevent chafing and irritation to the skin, and will prevent the absorption of perspiration. After use of the neck protector, it may easily be removed by sliding the clasp 25 downwardly, detaching the flap 26 from the other equipment worn by the user, spreading the leg sections 11 and 12 apart and removing it from its position straddlin the users neck.

I claim:

1. A neck protector for a user wearing a helmet having a bottom edge, comprising a substantially U-shaped member adapted to straddle the users neck including a pair of leg sections engageable with the upper portions of the users shoulders adjacent the users neck and an intermediate connecting section disposable adjacent the back of the users neck, said leg sections at the rear portions thereof and said intermediate connecting section having planar bottom surfaces in substantially a common plane, said member having a length sufficient to permit the intermediate connecting section thereof to project rearwardly from the users shoulders unsupported when the protector is being worn and the forward portions of said leg sections being curved forwardly and downwardly, said curved leg sections having botton surfaces curved sufficiently to space said bottom surfaces intermediate the forward and rear portions of said leg sections away from the users upper chest portion with the forward ends of said leg sections adapted to engage the upper chest portion of the user when said member is being worn and said leg sections are resting on the users shoulders.

2. A neck protector according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate connecting section and the rear portions of said leg sections are provided with upper planar surfaces engageable by the bottom edge of said helmet with the planar surface of said intermediate connecting section being above the plane of the planar surfaces of the leg sections.

3. A neck protector according to claim 1, wherein said member is formed of a resilient material and is provided with an impervious outer surface.

5 6 4. A neck protector according to claim 1, including References Cited means for securing said member to the attire of the UNITED STATES PATENTS user.

5. A neck protector according to claim 1, 'wherein 1,837,499 12/1931 SParhaWk 2 2 said U-shaped member in cross-sections is four-sided with 5 3,189,917 6/1965 Suns 2-2 XR all edges thereof being rounded. 3248738 5/1966 Morgan 22 6. A neck protector according to claim 1, wherein the forward portions of said leg sections converge toward MERVIN STEIN Pnmary Examiner one another. GEORGE H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner 

